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This Growth Stock Is a Pure No-Brainer Buy Right Now

newsfeedback@fool.com (Leo Sun)
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⚡ Quantum Brief
The hydrogen fuel cell developer’s stock surged nearly 50% over the past year but remains 98% below its 1999 IPO price, trading at just four times annual sales despite robust growth potential. Its core business now focuses on fuel cells for Amazon and Walmart’s hydrogen-powered forklifts, with 74,000+ systems deployed globally—up from 40,000 in 2021—securing major contracts like NASA and Uline. Revenue growth stalled in 2024 due to macroeconomic headwinds but rebounded in 2025, with analysts projecting a 17% CAGR through 2028 and positive EBITDA by 2028. Cost-cutting via "Project Quantum Leap" and rising demand for electrolyzers—critical for green hydrogen production—could offset reduced government subsidies and policy challenges. The global hydrogen market’s 6.7% CAGR through 2034 positions the company as an early leader, with potential to outpace industry growth amid accelerating decarbonization efforts.
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By Leo Sun – Mar 4, 2026 at 3:28PM ESTKey PointsPlug Power’s stock has soared over the past year.It still looks undervalued relative to its long-term growth potential.Plug Power (PLUG +10.76%), a developer of hydrogen charging technologies, saw its stock rally nearly 50% over the past 12 months. Yet it still trades 98% below its 1999 IPO price, and it doesn't look expensive at less than four times this year's sales. Let's see why Plug could actually be a great growth stock to buy right now. Image source: Getty Images. Why does Plug Power still have room to run?

When Plug Power went public, it planned to build hydrogen charging systems for entire homes. Unfortunately, high infrastructure costs, regulatory issues, and soft demand forced it to abandon those ambitious plans. Over the past two decades, the company has pivoted to selling hydrogen fuel cells, electrolyzers, and storage systems. ExpandNASDAQ: PLUGPlug PowerToday's Change(10.76%) $0.24Current Price$2.47Key Data PointsMarket Cap$3.1BDay's Range$2.24 - $2.5052wk Range$0.69 - $4.58Volume5.7MAvg Vol100MGross Margin-7128.74% Today, Plug Power generates most of its revenue by selling fuel cells and charging systems for Amazon's (AMZN +3.97%) and Walmart's (WMT 0.08%) hydrogen-powered forklifts. Those two retail giants, through the stock warrants they received in exchange for purchasing its fuel systems, are also Plug's largest investors. The company has already deployed over 74,000 GenDrive fuel cell systems worldwide, up from around 40,000 systems at the end of 2021. From 2021 to 2025, Plug's revenue grew at a 9% CAGR. It suffered a severe slowdown in 2024 amid macro headwinds that drove many companies to suspend their hydrogen projects, but it recovered in 2025 as it overcame some of those challenges. From 2025 to 2028, analysts expect its revenue to grow at a 17% CAGR, with adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) turning positive in the final year. That growth should be driven by new government and commercial contracts, including its recent deals with NASA and the logistics operator Uline, the increased production of its own green hydrogen, and soaring demand for its electrolyzers (which produce that green hydrogen). Those catalysts could partly offset the new challenges posed by lower government subsidies and the Trump Administration's recent suspension of the Department of Energy's loan guarantee program. It's also aggressively cutting costs through its new "Project Quantum Leap" initiative to improve its margins. Why is it the right time to buy Plug Power's stock? The global hydrogen market could expand at a 6.7% CAGR from 2026 to 2034, according to Fortune Business Insights, as more countries ramp up their decarbonization efforts.

If Plug Power maintains its early mover's advantage in this expanding market, it could grow faster than the broader industry and generate impressive long-term gains.Read NextMar 4, 2026 •By Rich SmithWhy Plug Power Stock Keeps Going UpFeb 11, 2026 •By Rick OrfordPlug Power Faces a High-Risk, High-Reward MomentFeb 11, 2026 •By Ryan VanzoWill Plug Power Stock Double in Price to $4 Per Share in 2026?Jan 31, 2026 •By David Jagielski, CPAPlug Power Stock: A Deep-Value Investment or a Dangerous Holding?Jan 29, 2026 •By Rick OrfordPlug Power Warning: Reverse Stock Split or Dilution – Bad News for Returns?Jan 22, 2026 •By Keith NoonanPlug Power Is Skyrocketing Today -- Is the Stock a Buy for 2026?About the AuthorLeo Sun is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst who has worked with the company since 2013, covering technology, consumer goods, industrial, and financial sectors. He became a self-made millionaire by age 40 through long-term investing, crediting lessons from Warren Buffett and Peter Lynch. Leo is a regular guest on CNBC Asia providing stock analysis on Chinese technology companies, including Tencent, Baidu, and Alibaba. He previously wrote for InvestorGuide and holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Texas at Austin.TMFSunLionX@TMFSunLionStocks MentionedPlug PowerNASDAQ: PLUG$2.48(+11.21%)+$0.25AmazonNASDAQ: AMZN$216.82(+3.88%)+$8.09WalmartNASDAQ: WMT$127.81(-0.08%)-$0.10*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.

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